Heroes lighting up the sky

Magical ‘light pillars’ photographed in wintry Northern Ontario sky | Canadian Geographic

Odin, the ruler of Asgard and chief god, was revered by all Vikings. They believed that during each battle, Odin would choose the warriors who would join him in Valhalla. The Valkyries were female warriors who rode horses and wore armour while carrying spears and shields. Their duty was to lead the warriors chosen by Odin to Valhalla. According to Viking beliefs, the Northern Lights that illuminated the sky were the reflections of the Valkyries’ armour as they led the warriors towards Odin.

According to Nordic legends, the aurora borealis was said to be the breath of brave soldiers who died in combat. Other stories suggest that the aurora was the ‘Bifrost Bridge’, a glowing and pulsing arch that led fallen warriors to their final resting place in Valhalla.

Danger in the lights?

The Sámi people are the indigenous Finno-Ugric community of northern Scandinavia. Unlike popular belief, the Northern Lights are not viewed as a symbol of heroism or bravery in their culture. Instead, the lights are to be feared and respected equally, as they are considered to be a bad omen.

According to Sámi folklore, the Northern Lights were believed to be the spirits of the dead. It was considered taboo to speak about them, and it was also considered dangerous to wave, whistle, or sing under them. This could potentially alert the lights to your presence and cause harm.

According to the legend, the Northern Lights possess the power to lift you up into the sky or even decapitate you if you capture their attention. As a result, numerous Sámi individuals to this day prefer to remain indoors while the mesmerizing auroras light up the night sky, just to be on the safe side.

Mythical fire foxes

Did you know? Myths & Legends about the Northern Lights | Discover the World Blog

In Finland, the Northern Lights are known as ‘revontulet’, which means ‘firefox’. According to a myth, it is believed that Arctic foxes were responsible for the aurora. The story goes that the foxes would run across the sky so fast that their furry tails would create sparks, which would then light up the sky when they brushed against the mountains. 

Legend has it that while the red foxes were running in the snow, their tails would sweep up the snowflakes into the sky. This caught the moonlight and created the beautiful phenomenon we know as the Northern Lights. This would also explain why the lights were only visible in winter when there was snowfall.

North American 

Many North American communities believed that the Northern Lights were the souls of departed ancestors.

Some North American legends suggest that the Northern Lights could be the spirits of the animals they hunted, but not all legends viewed them as benevolent.

The circle of life

According to some Native American stories, the Northern Lights were believed to be torches held by spirits. These spirits were supposed to guide the souls of the recently departed to the land of brightness and plenty by leading them over the abyss. The Northern Lights were also believed to make a whistling sound which was a way for them to communicate with humans on Earth. The spirits believed that humans should answer back with whispers.

The Eskimo tribes believed that they could summon the Aurora to communicate with their deceased relatives. Similarly, the Cree Indians had a strong belief in the concept of the ‘circle of life’, and they considered the Northern Lights as a way of conversing with their ancestors. According to their belief, when dogs barked at the lights, it was a sign of recognition of their lost companions.

The Algonquin tribes of Canada and northern Michigan believed that Nanabozho, the creator of the Earth, went to the far north and lit a massive fire to let his people know that he was still thinking of them even though he was far away. The aurora was considered to be a reflection of this fire.

The Menominee Indians of Wisconsin believed that the lights they saw at night were created by gentle giants fishing with torches.

The Inuit communities of northern Greenland held distinct beliefs about the Northern Lights. Some believed that the lights were the spirits of the dead playing celestial games with a walrus skull, while others believed that it was the walruses playing games with a human skull.

Omens of death

Not all Native American communities in North America viewed the Northern Lights positively, and many believed they were a bad omen.

The Great Plains Indians held a belief that the Northern Lights were not a creation of a benevolent being, but rather the reflection of massive fires. They thought these fires were ignited by Northern tribes to cook their enemies under enormous cooking pots.

The Fox Indians in Wisconsin believed that the Northern Lights were the vengeful spirits of their enemies who had been killed and were trying to rise again and that they were also a sign of disease and war. Similarly, Inuit communities in Alaska were afraid of the Northern Lights and carried knives to protect themselves from the malevolent spirits of the aurora.

European

Although the Northern Lights are most commonly visible in the Auroral Oval above the Arctic Circle, they occasionally appear further south during periods of high solar activity.

Europe has a rich collection of myths and tales about aurora sightings throughout history.

Omens of bloodshed

In the southern parts of Europe, when the aurora borealis appears, the lights often have a reddish hue. This may be why many people in continental Europe saw the dancing crimson streaks of the aurora as a bad omen and warning of war or other dangers.

During the late 18th century, the revolution that occurred in France caused chaos within the country. Before the overthrow of the monarchy, a bright red aurora was visible in the skies over England and Scotland. Locals reported hearing the sounds of massive armies engaging in battle in the sky. These frightened witnesses believed it to be a sign of an impending war and doom.

The Northern Lights are also known as the “Merry Dancers” by the Scots. However, they believed that the lights were actually fallen angels or sky warriors engaged in a great battle. In the Hebrides, green heliotropes sprinkled with red known as bloodstones are quite common. The Scots believed that these red specks were drops of blood that fell from the sky onto the stones as the Merry Dancers fought in the sky.